Softener compositions

Details Softener compositions Softener compositions

2001-01-05

2002-06-25

Hardee, John (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing

Textile softening or antistatic composition

C510S501000, C510S502000, C510S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06410502

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a softener composition.
BACKGROUND ART
Most of the commercially available softener compositions for fibers are compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium salt containing two long-chain alkyl groups in one molecule and being typified by a di(long-chain alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.
However, the quaternary ammonium salt described above suffers from the problem that, residues formed during treatment are discharged into the environment such as a river, and most of them accumulate without biodegradation.
As an improved product addressing the above-mentioned problem, N-methyl-N,N-bis(long-chain alkanoyl oxyethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methyl sulfate, N,N-dimethyl-N,N-bis(alkanoyloxyethyl) ammonium chloride or the like is commercially available. Although the biodegradability of the product is improved when compared to that of the quaternary ammonium salt described above, the improved product cannot be said to have a sufficient softening effect.
On the other hand, water saving type laundering machines have become popular in recent years. That is, a laundering and softening treatment are carried out with a smaller amount of water than is necessary for conventional machines. In the case of a softening treatment under such a condition, a softener into which the above-described quaternary ammonium salt is blended, as it is, suffers from the problem that the softening effect cannot be sufficiently obtained.
On the other hand, it is desirable from the viewpoint of a resource-, energy- or space-saving that the softener is highly concentrated. However, when the quaternary ammonium salt described above is blended, as it is, at a high concentration, there is the problem of a higher viscosity, gelation or separation during a storage.
As the prior art, JP-A 6-228875 discloses a softener composition comprising a di-long-chain quaternary ammonium salt and a di-long-chain amine in the ratio of from 99/1 to 85/15 and JP-A 5-195432 discloses an ester amide-based quaternary salt or a tertiary amine/alkanol amide neutralized salt. However, the creaky feeling of clothes and so on cannot be removed using any one of the prior art compositions described above.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a softener composition which has a favorable softening effect even it is used with a small amount of water, it gives a minimal creaky feeling to fabrics, it has a high biodegradability, and it shows an excellent storage stability even though it is blended at a high concentration.
The present inventors have found that the problem described above can be solved by using a cationic surfactant having at least two selected from long-chain alkyl and alkenyl groups in combination with a specific amine or a salt thereof. And then, the present inventors have completed the present invention.
That is, the present invention provides the softener composition which comprises a component (A) containing an amine represented by the following formula (I), a salt thereof or a mixture of the same and a component (B) containing a compound represented by the following formula (II-2) as the essential component and optionally containing at least one of the compounds represented by the formulae (II-1) and (II-3), wherein the ratio of the component (A) to the component (B), namely (A)/(B), by weight is from 2/8 to 8/2:
wherein R
1
and R
2
are the same or different and each of R
1
and R
2
represents a hydrogen atom, a C
1-3
alkyl group, —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H, —C
n
H
2n
—X—R
3
or —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
; m, n and q are the same or different and each of m, n and q represents an integer of 1 to 6; p represents a number selected from 1 to 10; R
3
represents a linear or branched C
5-22
alkyl or alkenyl group; X represents —OCO— or —COO—; and Y represents —NHCO—, —CONH—, —O— or —CH
2
—; provided that at least one of R
1
and R
2
is —C
n
H
2n
—X—R
3
or —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
;
wherein R
4
represents a C
1-3
alkyl group or —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H; R
5
represents a C
6-22
alkenyl group, —C
n
H
2n
—X—R
3
or —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
; each of m, n, p, q, R
3
, X and Y has the same meaning as defined above; Z
−
represents an anion; and one of the plural R
4
's and R
5
's may be same as or different from another.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the content of the component (B) is 11 to 50% by weight as compared with the softener composition, provided that the component (A) is represented by the following formula (a-1) and excluding case that the component (B) is represented by the following formula (b-1):
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The component (A) in the present invention is preferably an amine represented by the formula (III), a salt thereof or a mixture of the same:
wherein R
1
represents a hydrogen atom, a C
1-3
alkyl group, —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H, —C
n
H
2n
—X—R
3
or —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
; m, n and q are the same or different and each of m, n and q represents an integer of 1 to 6; p represents a number selected from 1 to 10; R
3
represents a linear or branched C
5-22
alkyl or alkenyl group; X represents —OCO— or —COO—; Y represents —NHCO— or —CONH—; and R
2
represents —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
.
The amine represented by the formula (I) or (III) is synthesized by acylation of an amino alcohol or diamino alcohol represented by the formula (IV) with a fatty acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof:
wherein R
1
′ and R
2
′ are the same or different and each of R
1
′ and R
2
′, represents a hydrogen atom, a C
1-3
alkyl group, —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H or —C
q
H
2q
—NH
2
; each of m, n, p and q has the same meaning as defined above; and at least one of R
1
′ and R
2
′ is —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H or —C
q
H
2q
NH
2
. The degree of acylation in total is preferably 1.2 to 2.5 and more preferably 1.5 to 2.3. For example, the amino alcohol represented by the formula (IV) may be triethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propanediamine or N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl) propanediamine or the like. The number of carbon atoms in an acyl moiety in the fatty acid or the lower alkyl ester thereof for use is preferably 6 to 22 and more preferably 8 to 18. For example, a fatty acid from a coconut, a tallow fatty acid, a hardened (or hydrogenated) tallow fatty acid, stearic acid from a palm, hardened stearic acid from a palm or a lower alkyl ester thereof is particularly preferable. Further, a fat and/or oil such as a coconut oil, a tallow, a hardened tallow, a palm-stearin and a hardened palm-stearin may be also used.
The salt of the amine can be synthesized in a usual manner by neutralization with an inorganic or organic acid such as hydrochloric acid (an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride), sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and succinic acid.
The amine represented by the formula (I) or (III) is preferably represented by the formula (Ia), (Ib), (Ic) or (Id) and more preferably represented by the formula (Ic) or (Id):
wherein R
3
has the same meaning as defined above and R
6
represents a methyl or hydroxyethyl group;
wherein R
3
has the same meaning as defined above;
wherein each of R
3
and R
6
has the same meaning as defined above and i represents 2 or 3;
wherein each of R
3
and i has the same meaning as defined above.
The cationic surfactant used as the component (B) in the present invention contains a component represented by the formula (II-2) as the essential component and may further contain a component or components represented by the formula (II-1) and/or (II-3). The component (II-2) is preferably represented by the formula (IIa) or (IIb), in particular:
wherein R
4
represents a C
1-3
alkyl group or —(C
m
H
2m
O)
p
—H; R
5
represents a C
6-22
alkyl or alkenyl group, —C
n
H
2n
—X—R
3
or —C
q
H
2q
—Y—R
3
; each of m, n, p, R
3
, X and Y has the same meaning as defined above; Z
−
represents an anion; and one of the plural R
4
's and R
5
's may be same as or different from another;
wherein R
3
has the same

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Softener compositions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Softener compositions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Softener compositions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2921153